The College of Charleston is marking a fresh chapter in campus life by celebrating the renovation of the Stern Center and sealing a 2026 time capsule during a dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. at the George Street building. The event brings together college leaders, students, and the teams behind the renovation to formally close the capsule and highlight the updated student hub.
What’s Going Into the Capsule
- The 2026 capsule contains modern‑day snapshots such as photos and memories from current undergrad and grad students, artwork made by preschoolers at the N.E. Miles Early Childhood Development Center, and a student‑authored book on heritage and place edited by faculty member Barry Stiefel.
- It also includes a recent article by alumna and staffer Ann Baldwin about her family’s long ties to the College, plus a personal letter from a staff member describing everyday life in 2026 and a wish that future students will be responsible stewards of the “foggy abyss of artificial intelligence.”
Bridging Campus Generations
- The new capsule will be placed in the Stern Center’s cornerstone alongside contents from a 1974 time capsule found during the renovation, so future students can compare student life, worries, and hopes across more than 50 years.
- The ceremony is part of a broader celebration of the building’s make‑over, which refreshed not only spaces but also how students socialize, study, and gather on campus. Alumni and community members are encouraged to attend and watch the capsule being sealed, turning the event into a shared, living part of College of Charleston history.
